Andorra Blood Drive at Bombonera Targets 200 Donations in 'The Play That Saves Lives' Campaign

A blood donation drive took place on Monday at Andorra la Vella's Toni Martí pavilion, known as the Bombonera, as part of the seventh "The Play That Saves Lives" campaign. Organized by the Andorran Red Cross and MoraBanc Andorra with government support, the event ran from noon to 8pm and targeted around 200 donations to maintain national reserves, similar to the roughly 206 recorded at the venue last year.

Around 30 people had donated by early afternoon, with organizers anticipating a steady flow to meet the goal. This marked the second drive of the year, following 436 donations at the Andorran School. Jordi Ribes, director general of the Andorran Red Cross, highlighted the need for ongoing efforts across the calendar to match or slightly exceed last year's national figure of about 1,400. He praised collaborations with the Andorran Health Care Service (SAAS) and the Catalan Blood Bank, urging widespread participation.

MoraBanc Andorra led by example, with president Gorka Aixàs, sporting director Francesc Solana, and staff members Paco Vázquez and Chechu Bermudo among the first donors. Numerous bank employees followed suit. Aixàs expressed pride in the club's involvement, noting its ability to draw crowds and boost turnout. He stressed the value of collective action to sustain supplies.

Health Minister Helena Mas and Secretary of State Cristina Pérez also donated, reinforcing official backing. Mas described the high participation as gratifying, emphasizing shared responsibility for public health and the role of generosity. The government actively supports all such initiatives.

The event offered double tickets to MoraBanc Andorra's upcoming match against Baskonia as an incentive. Donors must be 18-70 years old, weigh over 50kg, be in good health, and wait three to four months between donations.

Participants shared positive experiences. First-time donor David felt brief dizziness after standing too quickly but plans to return regularly. Habitual donor Pere aims to attend all four annual drives. Long-time Red Cross volunteer Montse, with 12 years of service, noted rising turnout from 50-60 people in early campaigns to hundreds now, crediting Andorrans' solidarity. Others, including Marta, Albert, and Joan, praised the initiative's community spirit amid concerns over growing individualism.

New this year, the drive included information stands on bone marrow and cornea donation. Cornea pledges, made via advance directives, can start at age two and restore nearly 100% vision success rates without blood matching. Bone marrow registration, for ages 18-40, involves HLA testing for international matching. Nurse Víctor García and coordinator Noemí Morell addressed myths, such as invasive procedures, while donor Daniela—also a regular blood and marrow giver—highlighted personal motivations. These options complement blood drives to expand life-saving opportunities.